"May the Three Moons sink into the sea!" he growled as he felt about in the dark. "More steps!" "They're coming," said Vaneen. "I know it," snapped Yorgh, wondering how patient a man had to be in the face of eating a sheaf of arrows. Then it occurred to him that it would probably be worse for the girl if they were caught, and he decided that she was being reasonably patient too. There were three short flights of steps, leading to a short corridor only a few feet wide. This ended in a blank wall, as Yorgh discovered by bumping his head against it. As his exploring hands reached out on all sides and confirmed that the passage was squared off to a dead end, he growled a particularly obscene oath he had heard among the Sea People. Then he hesitated. "Vaneen," he whispered, "can you see anything?" "Where?" came her whisper over his shoulder. Then he heard her gasp. "Oh, Yorgh, it doesn't look solid! I can see shadows!" "It must be some kind of door," Yorgh declared. "If I only had a light! There's some kind of round bump but I can't find any handle." He threw his weight against the smooth surface but it did not even quiver. "Well," said Yorgh, "I was tired of letting that rabble chase me anyway." It bothered him, however, not to know what had trapped him, what sort of barrier it was. I wonder if I could see by sparks from my fire stones? he thought. He sheathed his knife and thrust a hand into the pouch at his belt. His fingers touched something long and metallic. Of course! he told himself. Although it probably won't work now that I need it! He pulled out the metal cylinder and twisted at the ends. As he located the right one, the blue-green light flared out, brilliant to eyes adjusted to the blackness. "It is a door!" Vaneen breathed. "Look, Yorgh! You can see through--" She stopped as the door slowly swung open. V Yorgh held the light in his left hand and dropped the other to the hilt of his knife, straining to see who or what was opening the door. Then he decided to thrash that matter out on the inside and twisted the light off to avoid making himself a target. He stepped forward ... and smashed into the closing door. At first, he thought someone had hit him. Then he heard the tiny click as the door shut. "There are torches below the steps!" Vaneen warned. Yorgh twisted the light on again, and held it out so he could examine the door closely. He saw the blue-green rays reflected from the small, round bump on the portal, which immediately swung open again. This time, Yorgh charged ahead without waiting. Vaneen was on his heels. As they passed the door, and their bodies shielded the light in his hand, it swung back and clicked shut again. They were alone in a large, shadowy chamber. "Look!" Vaneen said.